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filo/Getty Images Sometimes, I think AI chatbots are modeled after teenagers. They can be very, very good. But other times, they tell lies. They make stuff up. They confabulate. They confidently give answers based on the assumption that they know everything there is to know, but they’re woefully wrong. See what I mean? You can’t tell from the context above whether my descriptions refer to AIs or teenagers. Also: How I tricked ChatGPT into telling…

Screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNET Microsoft doesn’t make it easy to install or upgrade to Windows 11, imposing strict hardware limitations on which PCs can run the operating system.  At the very least, your computer’s motherboard needs to support Secure Boot and TPM 2.0, both of which are security features that aim to protect against malicious access. But such requirements leave older PCs out of the running, giving you little choice but to remain on Windows…

Bringing AI as close as possible to enterprise SoftBank performed an outdoor trial in Japan’s Kanagawa prefecture in which its AI-RAN infrastructure built on Nvidia AI Enterprise achieved carrier-grade 5G performance while using excess capacity to concurrently run AI inference workloads. These workloads included  multimodal retrieval-automated generation (RAG) at the edge, robotics control, and autonomous vehicle remote support. SoftBank is calling the trial ‘AITRAS.’ In inferencing, pre-trained AI models interact with previously unseen data for…

Jason Hosking/Getty Images As an active user of Bluesky, I’ve witnessed the platform’s remarkable growth firsthand. In recent weeks, my follower count has surged alongside the influx of many new users joining the network, reflecting a genuine demand for a fresh social media experience. However, with such rapid growth come some challenges. Today, Bluesky experienced significant strain, resulting in numerous errors and slow loading times. My experience on Bluesky today was both exciting and frustrating….

ZDNET’s key takeaways Amazon’s base model Kindle retails for $110 and promises quicker page-turning, a brighter display, and a fun matcha green colorway (alongside the classic black). The e-reader is more reactive and vivid, and reading anything on the lightweight, portable device is convenient. This model has the shortest battery life out of the entire lineup, but it’s still six weeks long. more buying choices Kindles aren’t like other tablets or smart devices; their sole…

ZDNET’s key takeaways The Oukitel RT3 Pro is available for preorder now on Oukitel’s site. This tablet is a rugged little beast that will take a beating and still perform as well as any mid-range Android. The RT3 Pro’s performance will not blow you away. I’ve become a fan of Oukitel phones and tablets. The company creates devices that don’t have to be treated with a heightened sense of fear that any drop or spill…

mdesigner125/Getty Images The hustle and bustle of the holiday season is here, and with it comes…errands! From traveling to loved ones’ homes to running to stores for last-minute gifts, ingredients, or decor, much of the season is spent on the road. To help make the experience as easy as possible, Google unveiled some features for Google Maps.  Also: I downloaded Google’s Gemini app on the iPhone for free – and it nearly replaces Siri for…

The holiday season and colder weather are officially here, making it an ideal time to curl up with a Kindle or buy one as a gift for a loved one. Three new upgraded models made this list, which means it’s a great opportunity to upgrade your old one. Also: The best Black Friday Kindle deals: Early sales available now While most Kindle tablets have a fixed amount of internal storage, many support Amazon Cloud backup…

Sabrina Ortiz/ZDNET One of the most practical applications of generative AI is enhancing voice assistants, which have remained relatively unchanged for years — and have notoriously not been the best at communicating. With Gemini Live, you can finally have human-like conversations with AI.  Also: I downloaded Google’s Gemini app on the iPhone for free – and it nearly replaces Siri for me In May, Google unveiled Gemini Live, a conversational AI-powered assistant that can be…

I value a good night’s sleep over everything, and if you’re anything like the 30% of adults with insomnia, you probably do too. While I don’t have insomnia, thankfully, I treat my sleep routine the way athletes treat their workout regimen — seriously. If I get a few days’ worth of bad sleep, I don’t feel like myself for weeks, and I prioritize getting to bed around the same time most nights and getting around eight…